Future forest: Restoration strategies for the future: a test of different strategies at stand and substrate level in forest set-asides.

Author

Head of department: Göran Ericsson +46 (0)90-786 8508
Assistant head of department:  Joakim Hjältén +46 (0)90-786 8400

Postal address: Institutionen för vilt fisk och miljö, SLU, 901 83 Umeå
Visiting address: Skogsmarksgränd, Umeå

• Aim: Evaluate the conservation value and cost efficiency of different restoration methods (burning and gap cutting) for set-asides.

Project description: We will evaluate how two restoration methods, burning and gap cutting  (that are currently developed and used in Swedish forestry) influence a variety of organism groups (e.g. mammals, insects, fungi, lichens, mosses and vascular plants) and thus also test their suitability for different groups of organisms. In addition, we will determine how saproxylic organisms respond to different types of dead wood produced for restoration purposes. The experiment set up includes 30 well-separated mixed pine/spruce dominated set-asides (size 5-15 ha) in  the counties of  Västernorrland and Västerbotten, making the experiment uniquely well-replicated. In each landscape, one set-aside will be subjected to prescribed burning after ca 30% of the trees have been cut and removed. One locality will be subjected to selective cutting, mimicking gap dynamics, creating small clearings, 20 m in diameter, around aspen stands and other deciduous trees. The third set-aside will serve as an untreated control.

Hosting forest company: Holmen.
Funding: FF, Kempe foundation, Formas, Lilla fonden.

For further details log on website :
http://www.slu.se/en/departments/wildlife-fish-environmental-studies/research/research-areas/forest-biocore/future-forest-restoration/